Cigarette package construction or the like



Nov. 18, 1969 W. C. WHITAKER ET AL CIGARETTE PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION OR THELIKE Original Filed March 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTORS WILLIAMC. WHITAKER JOSEPH Y. THOMAS THEIR ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1969 w. c.WHITAKER ET AL CIGARETTE PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION OR THE LIKE Original FiledMarch 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILLIAM C.WHITAKER JOSEPH Y.THOMAS BY 5 Z THEIR ATTORNEYS Reissused Nov. 18, 1969 26,712 CIGARETTEPACKAGE CONSTRUCTION OR THE LIKE William C. Whitaker, ChesterfieldCounty, and Joseph Y. Thomas, Henrico County, Va., assignors to ReynoldsMetals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Original No.3,270,945, dated Sept. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 351,997, Mar. 16, 1964.Application for reissue Aug. 30, 1968, Ser. No. 760,390

Int. Cl. B65d 17/00, 5/54, 5/70 US. Cl. 229-51 25 Claims Matter enclosedin heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part ofthis reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates theadditions made by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses an improvedcontainer having improved opening means and a blank from which the samecan be formed. On its open end, the container has side flaps with oneend flap extending therefrom so formed that portions of the side flapsare in overlapping relation with each other while other portions are inabutting relation with each other.

This invention relates to an improved container having improved openingmeans therefor.

It is well known that the conventional cigarette package constructionnormally comprises a metallic foil liner disposed around the cigarettesand received in a paper cup-like member to hold the package constructiontogether. Thereafter, a cellophane overwrap or the like is disposedaround the entire package construction so that a pull string can beprovided for opening the cellophane overwrap to provide access means foropening the overlapping portions of the liner adjacent a revenue-likestamp extending across the liner at the open end of the paper cup-likemember.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, an improvedpackage construction is provided for cigarettes or the like wherein theconventional paper cuplike member, cellophane overwrap and revenue-likestamp can be completely eliminated as the so-called metallic foil linerforms the entire surrounding structure for the cigarettes or the likeand has unique means for sealing the freshness of the cigarettes thereinas well as readily permitting the ultimate consumer to open the same ina simple and effective manner.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcontainer having one or more of the novel features of this invention asset forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved container of thisinvention in its closed position.

FIGURES 2-5 are respectively fragmentary perspective views illustratingthe various steps in the method of opening the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1 with theleft end flap thereof cut away, FIGURE 6 being taken on line 66 ofFIGURE 7.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the improved blank of this invention forforming the container of FIGURE 1.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable to provide a single wrapfor cigarettes or the like, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combinationthereof to provide an improved container and opening means for otherproducts as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved container of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and is formed from asingle sheet of material shaped in the general configuration illustratedin FIG- URE 8 and generally indicated by the reference numeral 11.

The sheet of material 11 can comprise any desired material. However, theembodiment illustrated in the drawings comprises a sheet of metallicfoil, such as aluminimum-containing metallic foil or the like, laminatedto a sheet of reinforcing paper material whereby the metallic foil sideof the sheet 11 forms the exterior surface of the container 10 andprovides a substantial moisture barrier surrounding the contents of thecontainer 10 in a manner hereinafter described.

The sheet of material 11 is folded either manually or automatically in amanner hereinafter described to define the substantially rectangularcontainer 10 in such a manner that the same provides a pair of opposedside walls 12 and 13 and a pair of opposed end walls 14 and 15respectively interconnected together at the corners of the container 10and defining a tubular structure having opposed open ends 16 and 17.

The container 10 has a pair of end flaps 18 and 19 and a pair of sideflaps 20 and 21 respectively extending from the open end 16 thereof andbeing utilized in a manner hereinafter described to close the open end16 of the container 10.

In addition, the lower portion of the blank 11 illustrated in FIGURE 8is adapted to define a pair of end flaps and a pair of side flapsextending from the opened end 17 of the container 10 to close the openend 17 thereof in a conventional manner whereby the flaps of the openend 17 of the container 10 will not be spe' cifically described althoughthe same will be apparent from folding the blank 11 into theconfiguration illustrated in FIGURE 1.

While the blank 11 is not creased or scored in the flat form illustratedin FIGURE 8, the same is adapted to be folded into the configurationillustrated in FIGURE 1 by suitable folding apparatus or the like.

However, a prescore or crease 22 is formed in the blank 11 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 8 to be disposed at the open end 16 of thecontainer 10 adjacent the end flap 18 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The blank 11 has a pair of slits 23 formed therein and extendinginwardly the free edges of the side flaps 20 and 21 toward the crease 22in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

In addition, the blank 11 is adapted to have glue or other suitable,adhesive applied thereto in the pattern illustrated in FIGURE 8 topermit the blank 11 to be folded into the sealed container 10 in amanner hereinafter described, the adhesive being indicated by thereference numeral 24. If desired, the adhesive 24 can be a heat scalableadhesive which can be activated by suitable heating means during thefolding operation of the container 10.

When it is desired to fold the blank 11 into the container construction10, the blank 11 is folded into tubular form by having the end edge 25of the blank 11 dispos d over the end edge 26 thereof and securedtogether by the adhesive 24 whereby cigarettes 27 or the like can be inscrted into the tubular form and the opposed open ends 16 and 17 thereofcan be subsequently closed, the end 17 being closed in a conventionalmanner while the end 16 is closed in a manner now to be described.

First, the end flap 19 of the container is folded over the opened end 16thereof whereby parts of the side flaps 20 and 21 are folded inwardlyfrom the end wall in a conventional manner whereby the side flaps and 21are adapted to be folded over the open end 16 over the folded end flap19 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the portion 28 of theside flap 20 is adapted to be disposed over the portion 29 of the sideflap 21 and be secured thereto by the adhesive 24, the adhesive 24 alsosecuring the folded under parts of the flaps 20 and 21 to the end offlap 19 in the manner provided by the adhesive pattern 24 in FIGURE 8.

It can be seen that the slits 23 in the side flaps 20 and 21 divide theportions 28 and 29 thereof from portions 30 and 31 of the side flaps 20and 21 so that the free edges 32 and 33 of the portions 30 and 31 willbe disposed in abutting relation adjacent the slits 23 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 6 to define a central seam or slit 34.

When the side flaps 20 and 21 are folded inwardly over the open end 16of the container 10, it can be seen that parts 35 and 36 of the portions30 and 31 of the side flaps 20 and 21 will be folded downwardly on theremaining parts 37 and 38 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6and be secured thereto by the adhesive pattern 24 on the blank 11.

The end flap 18 is also folded over the open end 16 over the portions 30and 31 of the side flaps 20 and 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1whereby the same will be secured to the portions 30 and 31 of the sideflaps 20 and 21 by the adhesive 24 in the manner illus trated in FIGURE6 as well as to the overlapping portions 28 and 29 of the side flaps 20and 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 so that the end flap 18completely seals closed the slits 23 and 34 as well as seals closed theopen end 16 of the container 10.

Therefore, it can be seen that the blank 11 of this in vention can beeffectively folded around the cigarettes 27 to provide a completelysealed closed construction for packaging the same without requiring theconventional paper cup and cellophane overwrap of a conventionalcigarette package construction.

When the ultimate consumer desires to initially open the container 10 ofthis invention, the ultimate consumer inserts a fingernail under thefree edge 39 of the end flap 18, the free edge 39 extending beyond theadhesive pattern 24 on the overlapping portions 28 and 29 of the sideflaps 20 and 21 to permit the ultimate consumer to lift up on the freeedge 39 and peel the same backwardly toward the end wall 14 in themanner illustrated in FIG- URE 2.

Further upward and backward movement of the end flap 18 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 3 causes the end flap 18 to separate from the sideflaps 20 and 21 to permit the portions 30 and 31 of the side flaps 20and 21 to be folded outwardly into position illustrated in FIG- URE 4 bytearing through the side flaps 20 and 21 at the slits 23 to the crease22 previously described.

In this manner, the container 10 can be completely opened so that theultimate consumer can dispense the cigarettes 27 as desired out throughthe open end 16 thereof.

Thereafter, the ultimate consumer can fold back the end flap 18 in a.reverse sequence in FIGURES 2-4 to close the container 10 and provide aneat package construction.

However, as is the usual case, the ultimate consumer desires to tear offthe open portions of the container 10 in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 5 whereby the precrease 22 in the blank 11 adjacent the portions30 and 31 of the side flaps 20 and 21 and end flap 18 readily permitsthe ultimate consumer to tear off the end flap 18 and portions 30 and 31of the side flaps 20 and 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5without requiring the use of the conventional paper cup as a back upmeans for the tearing operation in a conventional cigarette packageconstruction.

Thus, it can be seen that the blank 11 of this invention is soconstructed and arranged that the same readily permits the edges 32 and33 of the parts 30 and 31 of the side flaps 20 and 21 to be disposed inabutting relation in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 so that when theend flap 18 is folded over the same the end flap 18 can completely sealclosed all slits 23 and 34 in the side flaps 20 and 21 so that productfreshness can be retained.

Accordingly, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide animproved container having many novel features, but also this inventionprovides an improved opening means for such a container or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A container having an open end, said open end having a pair ofopposed side flaps and an end flap extending therefrom, said side flapseach being formed into two portions by a slit extending inwardly fromthe free edge thereof toward said open end, said side flaps being foldedover said open end with said one portion of one of said side flapsdisposed in overlapping relation with said one portion of the other sideflap and the other portion of said one side flap disposed in abuttingrelation with said other portion of said other side flap to close saidopen end, said end flap being folded over said other portions of saidside flaps and extending over part of said one portions of said sideflaps to completely cover said slits in said side flaps.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slits are in alignedrelation when said side flaps are folded over said open end.

3. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said overlapping portionsof said side flaps are secured together.

4. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said end flap is securedto said overlapping portions of said side flaps.

5. A container having an open end, said open end having a pair ofopposed side flaps and a pair of opposed end flaps extending therefromand being joined together at their junctures with each other, said sideflaps each being formed into two portions by a slit extending inwardlyfrom the free edge thereof toward said open end, said side flaps beingfolded over said open end with said one portion of one of said sideflaps disposed in overlapping relation with said one portion of theother side flap and the other portion of said one side flap disposed inabutting relation with said other portion of said other side flap toclose said open end, said other portions of said side flaps having partsthereof folded on top of the remaining parts thereof, one of said endflaps being folded over said other portions of said side flaps andextending over part of said one portions of said side flaps tocompletely cover said slits in said side flaps.

6. A container as set forth in claim 5 wherein said other end flap isfolded over said open end beneath said one portions of said side flaps.

7. A container as set forth in claim 5 wherein said slits are in alignedrelation when said side flaps are folded over said open end.

8. A container as set forth in claim 5 wherein said overlapping portionsof said side flaps are secured together.

9. A container as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first-named parts ofsaid other portions of said side flaps are secured to said remainingparts thereof.

10. A container as set forth in claim 5 wherein said one end flap issecured to said other portions of said side flaps adjacent said slits.

11. A container as set forth in claim 5 wherein said one end flap issecured to said overlapping portions of said side flaps.

12. A substantially rectangular container formed from a single sheet ofmaterial having opposed ends thereof disposed in overlapping relation todefine a tubular structure defining opposed side walls and opposed endwalls of said container with a pair of opposed side flaps and a pair ofopposed end flaps respectively extending from opposed open ends of saidcontainer, each set of flaps being joined together at their junctureswith each other, one pair of said side flaps each being formed into twoportions by a slit extending inwardly from the free edge thereof towardthe respective one open end, said one pair of side flaps being foldedover said one open end with said one portion of one of said side flapsdisposed in overlapping relation with said one porti n of the other sideflap and the other portions of said one side flap disposed in abuttingrelation with said other portion of said other side flap to close saidone open end, said other portions of said one pair of side flaps havingparts thereof folded on top of the remaining parts thereof, one of saidend flaps at said one open end being folded over said other portions ofsaid one pair of side flaps and extending over part of said one portionsthereof to completely cover said slits in said one pair of side flaps.

13. A container as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sheet of materialis creased at said one open end of said container adjacent said one endflap and said other portions of said one pair of side flaps tofacilitate removal of the same.

14. A container as set forth in claim 12 wherein the other end flap atsaid one open end is folded over said one open end beneath saidoverlapping portions of said one pair of side flaps.

15. A container as set forth in claim 12 wherein said flaps at saidother open end of said container close the same.

16. A container having an open end, said open end having a pair ofopposed side flaps and end flaps extending therefrom, said side flapseach being formed into two portions by a slit extending inwardly fromthe free edge thereof towards said open end, said side flaps beingfolded over said open end with said one portion thereof in overlappingrelation and the other portions thereof in abutting relation to closesaid open end, said end flap being folded over said other portions ofsaid side flaps and extending over part of said one portion of said sideflaps to completely cover said slits in said side flaps, said end flapbeing secured to said overlapping portion of said side flaps, said endflap having a free end grasping portion extending beyond the portionthereof that is secured to said overlapping portions of said side flaps.

17. A container having an open end, said open end having a pair ofopposed side flaps and a pair of opposed end flaps extending therefromand being secured together at their junctures with each other, said sideflaps each being formed into two portions by a slit extending inwardlyfrom the free edge thereof towards said open end, said side flaps beingfolded over said open end with said one portions thereof in overlappingrelation and the other portions thereof in abutting relation to closesaid open end, said other portions of said side flaps having partsthereof folded on top of the remaining parts thereof, one of said endflaps being folded over said other portions of said side flaps andextending over part of said one portion of said side flaps to completelycover said slits in said side flaps, said one end flap being secured tosaid overlapping portion of said side flaps, said one end flap having afree end grasping portion extending beyond the portion thereof that issecured to said overlapping portions of said side flaps.

18. A flat blank adapted to be folded and sealed to form a containerhaving an open end, said open end having a pair of opposed side flapsand an end flap extending therefrom, said side flaps each being formedinto two portions by a slit extending inwardly from the free edgethereof toward said open end, said side flaps being folded over saidopen end with said one portion of one of said side flaps disposed inoverlapping relation with said one portion of the other side flap andthe other portion of said one side flap disposed in abutting relationwith said other portion of said other side flap to close said open end,said end flap being folded over said other portions of said side flapsand extending over part of said one portions of said side flaps tocompletely cover said slits in said side flaps.

19. The blank of claim 18 wherein said slits are precut to define saidother portions of said side flaps with said end flap disposedconriguously thcrebetween.

20. The blank of claim 18 which further comprises an aluminum foil layerlaminated to a paper layer.

21. The blank of claim 18 wherein a heat scalable adhesive is disposedon said side flaps immediately adjacent and on both sides of said slits.

22. The blank 0; claim 18 wherein the inner limits of said end flap andof said other portions of said side flaps are defined by a linearcrease.

23. The blank of claim 18 wherein said slits are parallel.

24. The blank of claim 19 wherein said other portions of said side flapsare precut so that at said slits said one portion of said side flapsproject beyond the free edge thereof.

25. The blank of claim 20 wherein said end flap is precut so that itsfree edge projects beyond said precut free edges of said other portionsof said side flaps.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,237,843 3/1966 Reed et al 22987 XR 2,205,0686/1940 Potter 229l7 2,789,747 4/1957 Graybill 22917 2,928,579 3/1960Graybill 229-l7 3,095,135 6/1963 Hennessey 22917 3,123,275 3/ 1964Bunger 22917 FOREIGN PATENTS 285,326 2/1928 Great Britain. 113,9284/1945 Sweden.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner

